Benefit Rates, Applicable Amounts and Disregards etc

Contributory and Non-contributory Social Security Benefit Rates April 05 April 06 April 07 April 08 April 09
  £ £ £ £ £
Attendance Allowance:            
 - higher rate 60.60 62.25 64.50 67.00 70.35
 - lower rate 40.55 41.65 43.15 44.85 47.10
Bereavement Benefit (started April 2001):           
Bereavement Payment (lump sum)  2000.00 2000.00 2000.00 2000.00 2000.00
Bereavement Allowance (standard rate) 82.05 84.25 87.30 90.70 95.25
Age-related Bereavement Allowance (claimant's age when partner dies/widowed parent's allowance stops):           
   54 (49) 76.31 78.35 81.19 84.35 88.58
   53 (48) 70.56 72.46 75.08 78.00 81.92
   52 (47) 64.82 66.56 68.97 71.65 75.25
   51 (46) 59.08 60.66 62.86 65.30 68.58
   50 (45) 53.33 54.76 56.75 58.96 61.91
   49 (44) 47.59 48.87 50.63 52.61 55.25
   48 (43) 41.85 42.97 44.52 46.26 48.58
   47 (42) 36.10 37.07 38.41 39.91 41.91
   46 (41) 30.36 31.17 32.30 33.56 35.24
   45 (40) 24.62 25.28 26.19 27.21 28.58
For deaths occurring before 11 April 1988 refer to age points in brackets          
Carer's Allowance: formerly Invalid Care Allowance           
   Allowance 45.70 46.95 48.65 50.55 53.10
   Invalid Care Allowance: adult dependant 27.30 28.05 29.05 30.20 31.70
Child Benefit           
Only, elder or eldest child for whom child benefit is payable (couple) [* effective from 5 Jan 2009] 17.00 17.45 18.10 18.80 20.00*
Only, elder or eldest child for whom child benefit is payable (lone parent)
[NB protected rate for certain lone-parents only] [* effective from 5 Jan 2009]
17.55 17.55 18.10 18.80 20.00*
Each subsequent child 11.40 11.70 12.10 12.55 13.20
Child Dependency Increases:             
Rate of child addition to:  Retirement Pension; Widow's Benefit; long-term Incapacity Benefit; short-term Incapacity Benefit (higher rate); Invalid Care Allowance and Severe Disablement Allowance; also short-term Incapacity Benefit (lower-rate) where claimant is over pension age:             
   Only, elder or eldest child for Child Benefit purposes (couple)see note 1  9.40 9.40 9.00 8.75 8.20
   Other children 11.35 11.35 11.35 11.35 11.35
Guardian's Allowance/Child's Special Allowance:  12.20 12.50 12.95 13.45 14.10
Christmas Bonus  10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00
Disability Living Allowance:            
   Care Component:          
    - Highest 60.60 62.25 64.50 67.00 70.35
    - Middle 40.55 41.65 43.15 44.85 47.10
    - Lower 16.05 16.50 17.10 17.75 18.65
   Mobility Component:          
   - Higher 42.30 43.45 45.00 46.75 49.10
   - Lower 16.05 16.50 17.10 17.75 18.65
Employment and Support Allowance - contribution based:               
   Single person under 25 - assessment phase        47.95 50.95
   Single person 25 or over - assessment phase        60.50 64.30
   Any age - main phase       60.50 64.30
   Lone parent under 18 - assessment phase        47.95 50.95
   Lone parent 18 or over - assessment phase        60.50 64.30
   Any age - main phase       60.50 64.30
Incapacity Benefit:           
   Standard Rate of Long-term Incapacity Benefit:            
    - Single person 76.45 78.50 81.35 84.50 89.80
    - Spouse or other adult dependant (where appropriate) 45.70 46.75 48.65 50.55 53.10
   Short-term Incapacity Benefit (under pension age):           
    - Single person lower rate 57.65 59.20 61.35 63.75 67.75
    - Single person higher rate 68.20 70.05 72.55 75.40 80.15
    - Spouse or other adult dependant (where appropriate) 35.65 36.60 37.90 39.40 41.35
   Short-term Incapacity Benefit (over pension age):          
    - Single person lower rate 73.35 75.35 78.05 81.10 86.20
    - Single person higher rate 76.45 78.50 81.35 84.50 89.80
    - Spouse or other adult dependant 43.95 45.15 46.80 48.65 51.10
   Increase of Long-term IB for age           
    - higher rate  16.05 16.50 17.10 17.75 15.65
    - lower rate  8.05 8.25 8.55 8.90 6.55
Invalidity Allowance (Transitional - only applies to claims before 13 April 1995):           
    - higher rate 16.05 16.50 17.10 17.75 15.65
    - middle rate 10.30 10.60 11.00 11.40 9.10
    - lower rate 5.15 5.30 5.50 5.70 5.35
Industrial Death Benefit:            
    - Widow's or widower's pension higher rate 82.05 84.25  87.30 90.70 95.25
    - Widow's or widower's pension lower rate  24.62 25.28  26.19 27.21 28.58
Industrial Injuries Benefits:            
    - 18 and over or under 18 with dependants:            
 Disablement Benefit (100% assessment)  123.80 127.10 131.70 136.80 143.60
   90% 111.42  114.39 118.53 123.12  
   80%  99.04 101.68 105.36 109.44  
   70%  86.66 88.97 92.19 95.76  
   60%  74.28 76.26 79.02 82.08  
   50%  61.90 63.55 65.85 68.40  
   40%  49.52 50.84 52.68 54.72  
   30%  37.14 38.13 39.51 41.04  
   20%  24.76 25.42 26.34 27.36  
 - under 18 (no dependants)            
   100%  75.85 77.90 80.70 83.85  
   90%  68.27 70.11 72.63 75.47  
   80%  60.68 62.32 64.56 67.08  
   70%  53.10 54.53 56.49 58.70  
   60%  45.51 46.74 48.42 50.31  
   50%  37.93 38.95 40.35 41.93  
   40%  30.34 31.16 32.28 33.54  
   30%  22.76 23.37 24.21 25.16  
   20%  15.17 15.58 16.14 16.77  
 Maxium life gratuity (lump sum) 8230.00 8450.00 8750.00 9090.00  
 Unemployability Supplement  76.45 78.50 81.35 84.50 88.75
 Unemployability Supplement permitted earnings level (annual amount)          
 Increases for early incapacity          
    - higher rate 16.05 16.50 17.10 17.75  
    - middle rate 10.30 10.60 11.00 11.40  
    - lower rate 5.15 5.30 5.50 5.70  
 Reduced Earnings Allowance (maximum)  49.52 50.84 52.68 54.72 57.44
 Maximum retirement allowance 12.38 12.71 13.17 13.68  
 Constant attendance allowance            
   - exceptional rate 99.20 101.80 105.40 109.60  
   - intermediate rate 74.40 76.35 79.05 82.20  
   - normal maximum rate 49.60 50.90 52.70 54.80  
   - part-time rate 24.80 25.45 26.35 27.40  
 Exceptionally severe disablement allowance 49.60 50.90 52.70 54.80  
Job Grant:            
   - Single or couples without children       100.00  
   - Lone parents or couples with children       250.00  
Jobseeker's Allowance contribution-based:            
Personal Allowances           
   - aged under 18  33.85 34.60 35.65 47.95 50.95
   - aged 18 to 24  44.50 45.50 46.85 47.95 50.95
   - aged 25 or over  56.20 57.45 59.15 60.50 64.30
Maternity Allowance (paid for 39 weeks at 90% of average gross weekly earnings up to max)            
   Standard Rate (max) 106.00 108.85 112.75 117.18 123.06
   MA Threshold 30.00 30.00 30.00 30.00 30.00
Permitted Earnings limit (formerly Therapeutic Earnings limit)  78.00 81.00 86.00 88.50 92.00
Severe Disablement Allowance        51.05  
 Age-related additions:          
    - higher rate 16.05 16.50 17.10 17.75 15.65
    - middle rate 10.30 10.60 11.00 11.40 9.10
    - lower rate 5.15 5.30 5.50 5.70 5.35
Social Fund           
   - Sure Start Maternity Grant       500.00  
   - Funeral Payment (max)       700.00  
   - Cold Weather Payment       8.50  
State Pension Credit           
Guarantee credit rates (PCGC)            
Single 109.45 114.05 119.05 124.05 130.00
Couple 167.05 174.05 181.70 189.35 198.45
Premiums          
 - Disability - Single 45.50 46.75 48.45 50.35 52.85
 - Disability - Couple one qualifies 45.50 46.75 48.45 50.35 52.85
 - Disability - Couple both qualify 91.00 93.50 96.90 100.70 105.70
 - Carers 25.80 26.35 27.15 27.75 29.50
Savings credit (PCSC)            
Threshold - single 82.05 84.25 87.30 91.20 96.00
Threshold - couple 131.20 134.75 139.60 145.80 153.40
Maximum single 16.44 17.88 19.05 19.71 20.40
Maximum couple 21.51 23.58 25.26 26.13 27.03
Standard Rate of Retirement (1) and Widows Pensions:            
   Single person   (Cat A or B) 82.05 84.25 87.30 90.70 95.25
   Spouse or adult dependant   49.15 50.50 52.30 54.35 57.05
   The over 80 pensions (non-contributory - based on residence) (1)  49.15 50.50 52.30 54.35 57.05
Statutory Adoption Pay            
   Earnings threshold 82.00 84.00 87.00 90.00 95.00
   Standard rate (max) 106.00 108.85 112.75 117.18 123.06
 (paid for 39 weeks at 90% of average gross weekly earnings up to max)           
Statutory Maternity Pay:           
   Earnings threshold 82.00 84.00 87.00 90.00 95.00
   Standard rate (max from week 7) 106.00 108.85 112.75 117.18 123.06
 (first 6 weeks at 90% of average gross weekly earnings with no max, then 33 weeks at 90% up to max)           
Statutory Paternity Pay:           
   Earnings threshold 82.00 84.00 87.00 90.00 95.00
   Standard rate (max) 106.00 108.85 112.75 117.18 123.06
 (2 weeks at 90% of average gross weekly earnings up to max)           
Statutory Sick Pay:           
   Earnings threshold 82.00 84.00 87.00 90.00 95.00
   Standard rate 68.20 70.05 72.55 75.40 79.15
Widowed Mother's Allowance  82.05 84.25 87.30 90.70 95.25
Widowed Parents Allowance 82.05 84.25 87.30 90.70 95.25
Widow's Pension (standard rate) 82.05 84.25 87.30 90.70 95.25
Age-related widow's pension (claimant's age when partner dies/widowed mother's allowance stops):           
   54 (49) 76.31 78.35 81.19 84.35 88.58
   53 (48) 70.56 72.46 75.08 78.00 81.92
   52 (47) 64.82 66.56 68.97 71.65 75.25
   51 (46) 59.08 60.66 62.86 65.30 68.58
   50 (45) 53.33 54.76 56.75 58.96 61.91
   49 (44) 47.59 48.87 50.63 52.61 55.25
   48 (43) 41.85 42.97 44.52 46.26 48.58
   47 (42) 36.10 37.07 38.41 39.91 41.91
   46 (41) 30.36 31.17 32.30 33.56 35.24
   45 (40) 24.62 25.28 26.19 27.21 28.58
For deaths occurring before 11 April 1988 refer to age points in brackets          
           

(Note 1) In certain circumstances, a child dependency addition may not be payable in respect of this child.